Washboard



(No Model.)

, H. G. OLDS. I

WASHBOARD. V No. 509,236. I Patented Nov. 21, 1893" UNITED STATES.

"PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. OLDS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,236, dated November 21, 1893.

Application filed June 1, 1893. Serial No. 476J217I (K 06610 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. OLDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and Stateoflndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washboards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved wash board, which is sim ple and economical in construction, strong, durable, and eflicient in practical use, and possesses a chamber of desirable deepness and capacity, formed by the widened part of -a bent wooden strip, and of such construction as to constitute a wall of less thickness than the legs of the wash-board, so that the manufacture of the article is facilitated by rendering the strip susceptible of being easily bent into form.

To accomplish this object my invention consists in the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washboard constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, showing a part of the wash-board in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 00-00, Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the wooden strip from which the frame of the wash-board is constructed.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where it will be observed that the surrounding frame of the wash-board is composed of a single piece of wood made in the form of a strip, which, centrally between its ends, is widened to form a shield B, while, at the opposite sides, it is narrowed or cut-away on curved lines, as at B, and merges into the side legs A and A which are of greater thickness than the thickness of the shield B, but are of less height than the same, so that the widened part of the bent wooden strip constitutes a chamber or compartment of desirable deepness and capacity at theupper end of the wash-board, or above the rubbing surface F vwhich is composed of corrugations on the front surface of a board E. The inner sides of the legs A and A are formed with longitudinal groovesb extending from near the narrowed or cut-away parts B to near the extremities or lower ends of the legs. These grooves are rectilinear and serve to receive the longitudinal edges of the board E, so that when the side legs are driven upon the edges of the board, the latter is firmly and permanently retained in position. The side legs A and A are rigidly connected at the upper end of the board E through the medium of a cross bar G, the ends of which are provided with tenons inserted into orifices formed in the side legs in juxtaposition to the narrowed or cut-away parts of the widened shield B. The back of the chamber or compartment formed by the widened shield B is closed by a back board D secured to the rear edges of the shield in any suitable manner. It will be observed that the central part of the bent wooden strip is very thin as compared to the thickness of the side legs A and A, but, by reason of the narrowed or cut-away portions B of the widened part composing this shield B, the legs are of less height than the shield.

By constructing the central portion of the strip in the manner described and shown,the manufacture of the wash-board is materially facilitated, in that the wooden strip can be easily bent into the desired form, and yet it will possess side legs of requisite thickness to secure the strength and durability which are so necessary in articles of this character. At the same time the widened portion of the strip, which constitutes the shield B, renders it possibleto provide a chamber or compartmentof considerable depth and capacity above the rubbing surface F; and,furthermore, this widened part of the strip forms an extended bearing or rest which makes the wash-board comfortable to the person using the same.

Theback board E is constructed with a series of alternating transverse slots a, which serve to prevent warping of the board; and therefore it is possible to secure a very strong,

durable, and efficient wash-board, wherein the IOO strip. The rubbing surface F of the back board E is preferably composed of a sheet of corrugated metal bent around the lower edge of the back board, as at c, Fig. 3.

By forming the frame of the wash-board in a single piece composed of a bent wooden strip shaped in the manner described and shown, a very economical article is provided. The frame of a wash-board has heretofore been constructed of a bent wooden strip of uniform width throughout its length, and having a rubbing surface composed of a corrugated piece of metal which renders it very ditficult, if not practicably impossible to place the longitudinal edges of the corrugated metal strip in interlocking engagement with the side legs of the frame, while a chamber or compartment of suitable depth and capacity at the upper end of the board is absent where the strip is of uniform width throughout its length. A wash-board has also been constructed with side legs having grooves to receive the edges of the rubbing board; but, in such prior construction, the side legs are separate pieces, and the cost of manufacture is largely increased While the articles lack strength and durability.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- As an improved article of manufacture, the wash-board herein described and shown, consisting of a bent wooden strip formed centrally between its ends with a thin widened shield B having narrowed or cut-away portions B at the sides which merge into the side legs A and A which are of greater thickness than the thickness of the shield but of less height than the latter, each leg having a 1ongitudinal groove in its inner side, a back board E provided with a rubbing surface F and having its longitudinal edges engaged with the grooves in the side legs, a cross bar G secured to the legs in juxtaposition to the narrowed or cut-away parts of the shield, and a back D secured to the rear edge of the central widened part of the bent strip, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY Gr. OLDS.

Witnesses:

J. A. SHEPARD, BRUTUS A. BOURIE. 

